i chit you know. i remember reading an article (maybe WSJ?) in my very early 20's. it listed the 10 most unstressfull careers. Civil Engineer was at the top.
when i decided i finally needed to get my crap together, that was the direction i took. i dont know how much influence that article had on me, but i must admit..i remember it.
Now? yea, despite my sorry math skills, i learned it well and i have a job.
i gravitated towards public service. i think i liked working with the big dollar amounts. i had an old-timer tell me early. "start your 401k, pass the PE exam, and NEVER tell a supervisor "NO" if it is work related" i did the last two.
a boss asked me if i can do it. YES! do you know how to do it? YES. all that did in my career was drop a huge workload on my head.
we attack every project with two team leaders. a RESIDENT ENGINEER and a Bridge Engineer. i'm a bridge guy. my last and CURRENT five projects..i am both RE and BRIDGE guy. i'm not proficient at my RE skills, since they have different job duties. everything i do, i have to look up the procedure. i am kicking ass for the most part so they want to give me one more. (the RE in my office has TWO projects!)..to distill it down, i have to do both jobs because upper management wont do their job and hire a few people.
i said it for the first time. "NO!" not sure it stuck. they will probably pencil me in anyways. i am thinking about quitting. not quitting in the traditional sense. quitting being a Construction Eng..simply jumping departments. CHIT, even a promotion at this point will stop the onslaught. maybe quit and join the Bridge inspection team..maintenance..anything. i'm 52. my blood pressure is creeping up on me. my phone wont stop ringing. emails are pinging as i type this.
i now fantasize about retirement. i think i'm gonna stuff a wad of cash in my pocket, load up the bike and ride to the nearest OF MONSTERS AND MEN concert. (apparently Vegas in Sept
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